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| The St Pierre and Miquelon "incident" |
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While based in Newfoundland, Admiral Murray hosted a visit from the Free French Admiral Muselier. Acting on orders from the Admiralty, Murray gave Muselier temporary command of three French corvettes and a submarine that were assigned to Murray's fleet, for passage to Halifax. On return from Halifax, Muselier took the vessels to Vichy-controlled St Pierre and Miquelon, and on 24 December 1941 raised the Free French flag to claim the islands for General de Gaulle, thereby creating a diplomatic incident between France, Canada and the USA. Murray was later asked to account for his role in this adventure - but steadfastly claimed (as did Muselier) that he had no part in it[1]. Nevertheless, in 1946 Murray was awarded the Legion d'Honneur by the Government of France, for "eminent services rendered to the cause of Free France at the time of the rallying of the inhabitants of St Pierre and Miquelon"[2]. |